It may seem pretty late for discoveries, but I’m happy to share that there’s in fact a new me—me in the water!
A latecomer and bloomer, too, in just about everything, I had been all my life terrified of the water; a no-ordinary clairvoyant—this one has a degree, from Belgium—told me that in another life I had died by drowning, which might explain the phobia.
Well, I’m still no Esther Williams, but, better than that, I’ve suddenly discovered the fountain of youth in Anabelle’s four-feet-deep swimming pool. I felt so secure in the even shallows, I lost my fear of drowning.
And that’s not the only miracle: once in the water another transformation begins.
Submerged chest-deep, in my black short-sleeved, short-legged special suit—“rashguard,” it is called—I’m an entirely different person; I’m an “aquabelle.”
Warming up, I go up and down on my toes to the beat of modern music, my arms going in circular movements. A few rounds, and I begin to feel a young agile girl inside my body. Of course, I exaggerate, but you, too, will if you haven’t felt young in a long time.
Suddenly I can twist my torso 45 degrees. I can lift one leg out straight and come close to touching my toes with my hand. I can bring a knee up to touch my chest or fold it behind me to touch my butt. Holding onto the poolside I can lift both knees up to my chest in a hop with such ease I surprise even myself.
I can do high jumping-jacks. I can ski around the pool as though I’ve been doing it all my life, and my fellow aquabelles laugh, surprised and amused at my enthusiasm; indeed, I’m all over the place.
And, why not? I have only one hour before I’m out of the water and back to my old self; 60 minutes of feeling unbelievably good, making bold body moves without any sound of internal creaking, without fear of falling or losing my balance and breaking something. Out of the water, the magic is gone.
I’ve asked our teacher Meya how come, and she says, “Tita, it’s because you’re much lighter in the water.”
Is she suggesting I lose weight? How, when moderation in everything is all I’m prepared to do, at this point. If weight loss happens, that will be most welcome.
Pampering
I happen to believe it’s pampering time for seniors—that’s why we love it at Anabelle’s. She spoils us. She has several bathrooms, each one with choices of shampoos, conditioners, bath lotions, etc., and soft towels.
Breakfast at Annabelle’s is the next pampering we receive. When once my husband arrived to fetch me and laid eyes on the breakfast, he said he finally understood why I couldn’t wait to be out of bed so early on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; he realized what we really exercise for.
It’s the closest to the breakfast buffet in any one of Anabelle’s own resorts.
Whatever Vergel says, I’m convinced bonds are built faster among seniors who exercise together and share the first meal of the day.
Despite the absence of our hosts Annabelle and Tom, we aquabelles haven’t stopped our aqua-aerobics, nor were we expected to. Breakfast is now planned by Linda, who we completely believe, is made for any job that calls for efficiency, thoroughness and dedication. Like she says, “Service is my business.”
Everything works out very well, but we miss Anabelle, and also others who have dropped out, though only for the time being, with her—her regular house guest, Jess, whose wild outfits outshines ours any day, and Angelo, the funny and talented hairdresser who saves the day for us with a blowdry or his stories.
We exercise mainly to feel good and stay fit while having fun in the water; if we reap benefits along the way, it’s a bonus.
We do feel better every time, not just about ourselves but life in general. Perhaps it’s in the water, as they say, or perhaps, in the contemplative breathing we do—in deeply and out slowly.
My complexion has gone from sallow yellow to a healthy beige mocha. If I still feel achy now and then I know it’s nothing that weight loss cannot alleviate. I notice I walk briskly whenever I’m relieved of carrying my big handbag. I should either switch to smaller or lighter bags or bring Lani along when I’m without Vergel.
If I have any difficulty doing anything, like getting out of the car, I don’t worry about it, knowing the miracles I can do in the water. Sometimes I feel like I share a secret life with Tony Stark, who, once inside his red suit of armor, becomes Ironman.
I am myself Aquabella in the water. It’s something I smile a lot about these days.
